(HARLINGEN, Texas) – It is common for a brother and sister to have a strong relationship.
For Adrian and Ana Hernandez, the siblings motivated each other while they studied at Texas State Technical College to earn their respective degrees. Not only did they graduate together with associate degrees from the LVN to RN Transition Nursing program at TSTC’s Harlingen campus, but they also accepted job offers in the medical field soon afterward.
“I was hired as a registered nurse three weeks ago at the Windsor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Raymondville,” Adrian Hernandez said. “I oversee the work that the vocational nurses do on patients of all ages, such as wound assessments.”
“I was hired as a registered nurse a month ago at the Harlingen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center,” Ana Hernandez said. “I provide skilled nursing rehabilitation and long-term care services to patients.”
The Hernandezes shared their perspective of the work culture at their new places of employment.
“Every nurse takes care of a patient like their loved one,” Adrian Hernandez said.
“Everybody looks out for each other,” Ana Hernandez said. “There is great communication between staff and the families who visit us.”
Ruby Castillo is a director of registered nursing for Harlingen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
“We have noticed that Ana is a proficient professional,” she said. “Her skills are trusted by our health care professionals. (They) respect her input when communicating critical information. It has translated to delivering time-sensitive care to our residents.”
Kinny Llanes is an assistant director of nursing for Windsor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Raymondville.
“Adrian’s presence has made a definite impact,” he said. “He has been quick to help the other nurses with whatever they need. He’s also our weekend treatment nurse because of his knowledge in wound care.”
Adrienne Reyes is TSTC’s LVN to RN Transition Nursing program team lead in Harlingen.
“Real-world clinical experiences allowed Adrian and Ana to apply theoretical knowledge to practice,” she said. “By working in various health care settings, they learned to adapt to different patient needs, collaborated with interdisciplinary teams and developed clinical judgment.”
The Hernandezes credit their career success to their former instructors at TSTC.
“Each instructor has a different medical background and clinical experience,” Ana Hernandez said. “Their knowledge helped me understand the different areas of nursing and make an impact in my job.”
“The instructors educated us about the type of care a patient would need and what’s next for that patient,” Adrian Hernandez said.
The siblings talked about the impact that each other had on their education.
“My sister motivated me when I didn’t have a good day,” Adrian Hernandez said.
“My brother found a way to help me grasp a medical concept that I didn’t understand,” Ana Hernandez said.
TSTC offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing at its Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses. A Vocational Nursing certificate of completion is offered at the Breckenridge, Harlingen and Sweetwater campuses. Both programs are now accepting applications for the spring 2025 semester. The deadline for the LVN to RN Transition Nursing program is Nov. 8, while the one for Vocational Nursing is Sept. 27.
For more information about TSTC, visit tstc.edu.
